Sheet feeding device



Aug. 2s, 1934. R. A. JONES 1,971,962

SHEET FEEDlNG DEVICE Filed July 5, 1935 2 sheets-sheet 1 Aug. 28, 1934. l R. A JONES 1,971,962

SHEET FEEDING DEVICE Filed July 5, 19533 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Aug. 28, 1934 www This invention relates to improvements in sheet feeding devices for withdrawing or extracting the sheets successively or consecutively from'a stack or pile preferably one, by one from' the bottom '5 of the stack. y

In sheet feeding. devices to whichthe present invention is particularly directed, it has beenlcustomary to employ a stationary needle or pricking tool for penetrating into several-of` the sheets,

'i 10 next in order to be extracted to` withhold the sheets to prevent the extracting sheet from carryi ing or, pulling. therewith .thejnext successive sheet under any frictional-or adhesive influencedetri- K mental to a single sheet feed. n l

y- An object of the invention -is to improve the eiciencyof the needleby continuouslyrotating the same and thereby prevent itspoint end from collecting or accumulating to'its impairment, a quantity of lint orflbre as readily occurs `in the use of a stationary needle. ,Y f

' Figure 1;' is .fa top-plan view of the `improved sheet feeding mechanism. I Figure2 is a vertical section online 2 2, Figurel. j i y Figure ,is-,an enlarged-section on line 3 3, Figure2. j.. .y f v. Figure 4 is a section on line 4I-4, Figure 3.`

The sheet'gfeeding mechanism is particularly adaptable for use as an adjunct to carton filling machines for inserting a printed leaf or leaflet into the carton with the merchandise. The leaves or sheets are successively extracted or withdrawn from beneath the pack or stack of sheets within a magazine or rack from whence they are fed to a position for inserting either individually or jointly with the merchandise into a carton.

In withdrawing or extracting the sheets one after another from the bottom of the stack, preferably by means of one or a plurality of feeding rollers frictionally engaging the lowermost sheet of the stack and to avoid simultaneously advancing two or more sheets it is necessary to apply a retarding pressure or hold on the next superposed sheet to withhold its advance, while the lowermost sheet is being withdrawn, due to the tendency of the sheets adhering together.

In the present instance, the withhold of the sheets is accomplished by a needle pricking several of the lowermost sheets of the pack and from which the lowermost sheet is torn, under its traversing pull imparted thereto by the feed rollers. It has been experienced on the continuous and high speed operations that the point of the needle will collect a small wadding of nbre from the sheets suiicient to destroy its utility and that this objection can be removed. as Well as insuring a betterpenetration ofthe needle into the'sheets ley-continuously rotating the needle. 'y

Referring toA the drawings, 1 indicates a side `frame of a carton loading machine-upon which 60 a rack or magazine4 2 for holding a stack or pile Iof sheets is Imounted.l The lrack preferably is-of lskeleton structure consisting ofA angle iron corner -sections 3 secured to the machine frame by brackets 4. n i v A plurality of spaced cross slats 5 providing the base for the rack upon which the stack of sheets i6 -are` supported anddepressed bythe weight 7 upon the top `of the. stack. UA plurality of sheet Yfeeding rollers 8 are journalled-beneath thef rack, :70

each roller fixed uponashaft 9journalled in the side frame 1 and a framev section l'securedvto a cross rail of the machine frame. '.Each feed roller shaft 9 on one end carries a gear 11 and the' gear posite end carries a sprocket wheel 13I as `a driver for the transmission gearing of the yfeeding mechanism, driven yfroma suitable -power source@A f 180 A gear 14 fixed .upon the shaft adjacent the psprocketfwheellS is in mesh with a gear 15 upon one end of .a shaft;16. Theopposite e'ncl of the shaft 16 has a gear 17 fixed thereon in mesh with a gear 18 on one end of a shaft of one of a pair 85 of companion feed rollers 19-19, gear connected with their peripheries frictionally engaged under the pressure of a spring or springs engaged against the journal at the opposite end of one of said feed rollers. The pair of feed rollers 19-19 are disclosed at the mouth end of a curved chute 20 for advancing the sheet as it is withdrawn from the rack downwardly toa vertical position for insertion into a carton 21 by a pusher bar 22 as an element of the carton loading mechanism. As illus- 35 trated, two pairs or sets of cooperating frictionally engaged feed rollers are provided for continuing the travel or delivery of the sheets from the rack, although various methods and means may be employed for conveying and operating upon the :31,00 sheets as they are extracted from the rack with which, however, the present invention is not concerned.

Each of the feed rollers 8 of the series, as shown, is provided with an insert section 23 seated in its .3105 periphery usually of a rubber material to provide a sectional, frictional surface for the roller for intervally contacting with the lowermost sheet of the stack to advance or feed the same with each revolution of the roller. This likewise is an exi The intermediate gear 24 is in mesh withapinion 29 upon the end of a shaft 30 journalledin a journal bracket 31 adjustably secured and clamped to the side frame l by a screw 3 2 engaged through an elongated slot in 'thefside frame and screw-threaded in the journal bracket 31.

The shaft 30 at its opposite end has a miter pinn ion 33 xed thereon in mesh with a miter pinion 34 xed upon the end of a shaft or-spindle k35 journalled in a bearing arm of the bracket 31 and held' against longitudinal displacement by acollarjor flange 36 on said shaft or spindle. The spindle has itsV upper end bored, split, and screwythreaded to provide va chuck for removably securing a needle 37 thereon and clamped thereto by a collet 38 screw-threaded on the end of the shaft or spindle. The needle and its spindle are poised slightly at an angle and the point end of the needle extends upwardly into the rack slightly above the plane of the base thereof pricking into several of thelowermost sheets of the stack as illustrated in Figures 2 and 4. Y

The` needle is extremely tapered producing a long and very `fine point which will readily penetrate the thickness of several sheets under the Vload of the stack or weight imposed thereon, and

its penetration is also aided by the rotation of the needle so that it will progressively prick through succeeding sheets in the descent `of the stack through the successive extraction of the sheets so that at least two of the lowermost' sheets will -be impaled. The lowermost sheet being indirect contact with the feed rollers, has a greater advancing'pull impartedthereto than can be transmittedL to the next adjacent superposed sheet through the extracting sheet preventing its traverse with the klowermost sheet and the'lowermost vsheet being in direct contact with the rollers -is torn or pulled from the needle and discharged from the rack of magazine.

The needle in continuous rotation immediately casts olf any loose lint or bre administered under a tear or pull leaving no opportunity for the collection or accumulation of any quantity which would render the needle functionless or impair its utility. An oscillatory motion of the needle is regarded as the equivalent of the rotary herein particularly referred to, or any other action which will prevent a collection or deposit of lint or bre on the point of the needle.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a sheet feeding device for operating upon the lowermost sheet-of a stack or pile for successivelyextracting the sheets individually, comprising, rotary sheet feeding means for frictional engagement with the lowermost sheet of the pile within'a rack to advance and extract the lowermost sheet therefrom, a continuously rotating spindle removably carrying a needle, lthe needle tapering toward one end to provide an extremely .ne point for penetrating several of the lower sheets at the rear end thereof for withholding against extraction, the sheets not directly operated upon by the sheet feeding means, a journal bracket journalling said spindle adjustable for changing the angle of the needle relative to the plane ofk the sheets, and gearing for transmitting said spindle journalled on said bracket as a 'unit therewith.

2. In a sheet feeding device for operating upon the lowermost sheet of a stack or pile for` successively extracting the sheets individually, comprising, sheet feeding means for frictional engagement with the lowermost sheet of the pile within a rack to advance and extract the lowermost sheet 'therefrorma continuously rotating spindle removably carrying a needle,'the needle having its point penetrating several of the lower sheets at the rear uend thereof for withholding'against extraction,

the sheets not directly operated upon by the sheet feeding means, a journal Afor said spindle, adjustable for changing the angle of said needle relative to the plane of the sheets penetrated by the point of the needle, and transmission means for rotating saidspindle and needle. l

` 1 RUEL A. JONES. 

